Detergent



N01 1, 1932. s, OPPENHEIMER 1,885,133

DETERGENT Filed April 15, 1929 chm an; 1-

Patented Nov. 1, 1932 DETERGENT Application am April 15, me. some Io.man.

This invention relates to improvements in detergents, and moreparticularly concerns a com osition and package of detergents for emoyment in cleansing fabrics.

8m of the objects of the present mvention is the provision of animproved detergent material for removing soiled spots from garments.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an improveddetergent material containing a spot removing substance 1n 9. flexibleabrasive base.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a detergentpackagecomprislng a liquid spot removing material 1n a flexibleabsorbent base, in which the liquid 1s prevented from escape byanon-permeable envelope. c

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a detergentpackage in wh1ch a volatile solvent'spot remover is provided 1n aflexible absorbent base, the loss of solvent by evaporation beingprevented by enclosing the base and solvent in a non-permeable envelope.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a detergentpackage comprising an inflammable grease solvent in a flexible coherentabsorbent material, the. danger of combustion of the solvent beingeliminated by providing a non-permeable envelope about the base andsolvent With these and other obiects in view as will appear in thecourse of the following speci- 35 fication and claims, an illustrativeform of ackage by means of which the detergent may be marketed andemployed is shown on the accompanying drawing.

In this drawing, a pad 10 of flexible coherent absorptive material suchas a number of sheets of thin absorbent paper, is impregnated with aspot removing substance, and the pad enclosed in an envelope 11 which ishermetically sealed and is non-permeable to either-the liquid of thecleansing material or its vapors. Such a material is the thintransparent cellulose product readily obtainable on the market and nowemployed for hermetically sealing for moisture proofness, or other filmproducts such as those having a paper base with a glue sizing thereon.The propriety of employing a particular film ma.- terial may readlly bedetermined by placing some of the liquid spot removing composition indirect contact therewith, and observing whether or not penetrationoccurs.

A preferred form of composition to be used in the absorptive pad is asfollows: 0.1% oil of citronella; 0.1% of spirits of ammonia,concentrated; of fullers earth; balance mineral spirits such as coal tarnaphtha or a crude oil distillate fraction of boiling point from 300 to400 F.

This composition is maintained in sus sion and sprayed onto the thinsheets 0 absorbent paper to a oint short of saturation, whereby thesheets come impregnated with this material and are competent to give offthe liquid when squeezed in contact with a spot, whereby the liquid isdriven into the fabric on which the spot is located and caused todissolve the grease or similar binder which holds the spot on thefabric. It is preferred to apply the material by friction, wherewithalternately the pad is compressed at one point to yield oif its solventwhile at another point the pad will reabsorb the solvent and the greasewhich it has dissolved The fullers earth assists the paper in thereabsorption of this liquid, and both together act as an abrasive andserve to physically remove portions of the spot. The flexibility of thepad of material adapts it to conform both with the hand or otherinstrument used for application, and to the contour of the fabricsurface from which the spot is to be removed. The ammonia serves tobrighten and freshen the fabric; while the oil of citronella obscuresand overcomes the odor of the spirits.

The mineral spirits of this particular composition being highlyinflammable as a liquid, and more especially as a gas, and being easilyvoltatile so that such solvent would escape quickly, it is desirable forthe permanency and safety of the package that the solvent should beconfined with the pad, which is accomplished by the employment of thehermetically sealed envelope as described above.

In employment, the individual package containing the impregnated pad maybe carried in the pocket-book or kept in a drawer without danger ofdeterioration or fire, and without the possibility of itself staining orsoiling surrounding articles. In em loyment, the envelo e is torn away,and the pad applied to t e spot by rub ing The abrasion, extrusion ofsolvent and reabsorption of solvent and grease occurs at the point ofapplication so that the solvent does not tend to spread the spot beyondthe point of application of the pad.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by letters patent is:

l. A detergent material comprising a pad of a plurality of layers ofabsorbent paper, and a mixture of fullers earth and mineral spiritshaving the volatility and grease-solvent property of coal tar naphtha imregnating said paper ad, the quantity 0 said solvent being insu cient tosaturate the pad.

2. A package of detergent material comprising a pad of a plurallty oflayers of absorbent paper, a mixture of fullers earth and mineralspirits having the volatility and grease-solvent property of coal tarnaphtha impregnating said paper pad, the quantity of said solvent beinginsufficient to saturate the pad, and a flexible envelope of materialhaving the properties of a cellulose film of being non-permeable to saidliquid or its vapor whereby to prevent escape of the liquid andenclosing and sealing said impregnated pad.

3. A package of detergent material comprising a pad of a plurality oflayers of absorbent paper, a mixture of fullers earth and mineralspirits having the volatility and grease-solvent and inflammableproperties of coal tar naphtha impregnating said paper pad, the quantityof said solvent being insuflicient to saturate the pad, and a flexibleenvelope of material having the non-permeable property of a cellulosefilm for preventing the escape of said liquid or its vapor whereby toprevent the loss or ignition of the liquid, said envelope enclosing andsealing said impregnated pad.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

WILLIAM S. OPPENHEIMER.

